The Church of Jesus Christ and the BSA
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church by the media and others) is the second fastest growing Church in the United States according to a report by the National Council of Churches. One of the primary focuses of the Church of Jesus Christ is its youth membership. At the end of December 2012, the First Presidency of the LDS Church issued a report stating that the total Church membership at that time was 14,782,473. Of that number, 391,680 youth, ages 14-18 were reported as being enrolled in seminary classes (religious education program for secondary students that is taught in conjunction with their daily educational curriculum.) Of those 391,680 youth, many are members of the Boy Scouts of America.
The LDS Church, Boy Scouts of America, and Same-Gender Attraction
The debate over whether to accept gays as both active Scouts and leaders in the Boy Scouts of America has been a longstanding one, with considerable deliberation on both sides of the issue.
In February 2013, after much discussion, it was decided that a resolution on the current policy of excluding gay members and leaders would not be voted on by the approximate 1,400 voting members of the national council until the annual meeting which will be held during the week of 20 May 2013 in Grapevine, Texas.
Read MoreMormon Family Search Indexing Reaches New Milestone
Most people know that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the Mormon Church, sponsors family history research worldwide. Mormons avidly search out their roots, and freely give of their time to help others do the same. The church-sponsored website, FamilySearch.org, hosts billions of records that 
anyone may search. Volunteers, both Mormon and friends of other faiths (or no faith) spend time on their computers copying hand-written documents into designated fields, so records can be digitized and shared. Some who participate in “indexing” call the experience a satisfactory substitute for online gaming, and it’s a far better use of their time.
Over 585,000 people have volunteered their time so far. In April 2013 The Church of Jesus Christ announced through Mormon Newsroom that one billion searchable records have been added in the last seven years. Volunteers reside in 164 countries and territories.
Read MoreFCC Relaxing Standards?
Alert: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) needs your push-back, your voice to stop the flood of profanity and nudity on prime time “family?” television. The FCC recently announced it is considering dropping current broadcast decency standards that ban explicit profanity and “non-sexual” nudity.Please see the Action Item below this post to take action.
Violence, Nudity, Extra-Marital Sex
Children are watching an average of 28 hours of television nationally. Since many TVs and computers streaming TV programming are in their bedrooms (2/3), much viewing is unsupervised.
What’s the net, net?: By age 18, a U.S. youth will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence, according to the American Psychiatric Association–an increase of vulgarity (72 obscenities in 117 hours of ‘prime time’ TV, 8-9 PM), as if the muck isn’t deep enough already, and now, more nudity than ever.
Extra-marital, pre-marital and homosexual sexual relations are depicted in 8:1 ratio over marital relations (none of which should appear). The content as well as the deceptive ratings are unacceptable. (Parents TV; No Place For Your Kids, 2).
Read MoreInspirational Easter Messages
He is Risen: Inspirational Easter Messages of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
Just in time for Easter, watch and share a new Christ-centered message,”He is Risen.” Ponder what the Savior means to all humanity—and to you personally. And then share the good news.
The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos: He is Risen
There’s been some waning in our secular culture of the significance of sacred days and a disappearance of reverence for or understanding of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We live our lives on the surface of frenetic activity, quick fixes, shorter attention spams, abbreviated communications, and sometimes lose the depth of seeking and communication with the spiritual truths that matter most. This week has often been a time to slow down and ponder and remember the story of Christ, in particular, the victory over death and sin that He alone has provided for each of us! It’s a glorious time of hope and remembrance. It’s a time when new blossoms dot the tree-lined avenues and when flowers push forth from the ground, urging us to see and walk in the newness of life provided by Christ. I witness that He has provided that newness for me–and continues to refresh my life and add colors unimagined 30 plus years ago, when I first really encountered Him.
This week is special in Christianity, and among Latter-day Saint Christians particularly, since it draws our focus to the events leading up to the Savior’s crucifixion and resurrection. We reflect on this week the Savior’s final mortal week, known as Holy Week by many Christians: His willing ride into Jerusalem on a donkey as the Passover Lamb, mistaken, rejected, and misunderstood by many; His agonizing suffering for you and I in the Garden; His voluntary submission to the most barbaric and tortuous death on the cross; and His glorious and literal resurrection of the dead. With other Christians, we, as Latter-day Saints (Mormons) attest that He lives! In spite of Resurrection Summits and deconstructionist doubters of the historical accounts, we witness personally and collectively that we know that He lives today, that He is capable of and does intercede to redeem those of the ‘uttermost’ depths of sorrow and sin, as they come unto Him and that He has a glorified resurrected body of flesh and bones, seen personally by Mary, Cleopas, ancient and modern apostles and hundreds of those to whom He appeared in His day (Hebrews 7: 25; Acts 1:3). We witness that He has also appeared in our day and that He lives!
Recently, a living prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson addressed the world and affirmed these salient core, saving truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.In his prophetic words, The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed “Mormons”), related his special witness of the reality of the resurrected Lord:
My brothers and sisters, we know that death is not the end, this truth has been taught by living prophets throughout the ages. It is also found in our Holy Scriptures. In the Book of Mormon we read specific and comforting words, “Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:11-12).
After the Savior was crucified, His body laid in the tomb for three days, the Spirit began entered, the stone was rolled away, and the Resurrected Redeemer walked forth, clothed with an immortal body of flesh and bones. The answer to Job’s question, “if a man die, shall he live again?” came when Mary and the others approached the tomb and saw two men in shining garments who spoke to them “why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen” (Luke 24:5). As the result of Christ’s victory over the grave, we shall all be resurrected. This is the redemption of the soul. Paul wrote, “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another” (1 Corinthians 15:40).
It is the Celestial glory, which we seek. It is in the presence of God we desire to dwell. It is a forever family in which we want membership. Such blessings are earned through a lifetime of striving, seeking, repenting and finally succeeding. Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go after this life? No longer need we these universal questions remain unanswered. From the very depths of my soul, and in all humility, I testify that those things of which I have spoken are true. Our Heavenly Father rejoices for those who keep His commandments. He is concerned also for the lost child, the tardy teenager, the wayward youth, the delinquent parent. Tenderly, the Master speaks to these and indeed to all, “come back, come up, come in, come home, and come unto me.”
As His special witness, I testify to you that He lives and that He awaits our triumphant return, that such a return will be ours, all of us, I pray humbly in His Holy name, even Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer. Amen.
The Church of Jesus Christ has a series of inspirational videos and messages for you and loved ones for Easter: He is Risen is a video compilation of special Bible videos prepared by the Church for the world. To view some of these Mormon Easter messages and share these devotionals during Holy Week or Easter Sunday, please see below:
Mormon Identities: Reflections on Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the Resurrection
Prepare for the Easter holiday by listening to a Mormon Channel episode of Mormon Identities, “Reflections on Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the Resurrection.” Andrew Skinner, a professor of ancient scripture at BYU, expounds upon the sacredness of these holy places and events.
Mormon Messages: None Were with Him
Watch and share Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s Easter thoughts on Christ in this Mormon Message, “None Were with Him.” One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so.
Stories from General Conference: The Resurrection
Listen as various stories are shared from past general conference sessions about The Resurrection. You’ll hear President Gordon B. Hinckley and other Church leaders
describe the miracle of the Resurrection and what it means for us.
Mormon Messages: His Sacred Name – An Easter Declaration
This Easter, remember the sacred name, life, and sacrifice of our Savior, and watch and share this Mormon Message, “His Sacred Name – An Easter Declaration.” Read President Thomas S. Monson’s full address, “He Is Risen!”
Mormon General Conference April 2012
Audio and video archives of the April 2012 general conference are now available online at gc.lds.org, YouTube and iTunes. Video archives are available in ASL,Cantonese, English, French, German,Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin,Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Audio files are available in over 70 languages. Text transcripts of the talks will be available in English on Thurdsay, April 5, and in over 40 languages within the following weeks.
Additional Resources:
Request a free copy of the Book of Mormon.
Read MoreNew Inspirational Mormon Young Women Video
Arise to the Mountain is a new young adult inspirational video that was shown during the 2012 General Young Women Meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (mistakenly called “The Mormon Church”). The video invites women of all faiths, and particularly committed young women of the Church of Jesus Christ, to be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants with the Savior and our Heavenly Father, and receive the ordinances of the temple that instruct, edify and strengthen everyone who participates in them. The sheet music for the song, as well as an mp3 version of it are available through Youth.LDS.org.
Young women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints live exemplary lives of service, and engage in a program of personal spiritual progress, through which they grow to become wiser and holier as they strive to follow the Savior’s pattern of discipleship in these formative years.
The annual meeting described above precedes what Mormons refer to as “General Conference”- a glorious, global conference of The Church of Jesus Christ where apostles and a living prophet as well as other leaders address those of all faiths, and those particularly, who embrace the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ today.
We invite all to learn more about Mormons, what Mormons believe, Mormon Youth, and General Conference. See Additional Resources listed below:
Learn more about General Conference at the official site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths as the “Mormon Church”).
Learn about Jesus Christ.
Request a free copy of the Book of Mormon.
Read More